Page 115 of Ice Princess

“What are you talking about? I live fifteen minutes away from you!” Max yells at my back.

I catch up to Chance fast. “Can I get a ride?”

He motions for me to get into his Lamborghini.

The first time I got a ride with Chance, I couldn’t figure out how to open the door. Now, I easily engage the latch and slide in.

As soon as Chance starts his car, his phone connects to the speaker system and April’s voice blasts through the car.

“She wassoupset, Chance. I had to beg her not to drive. I called one of those sober-driver chauffeur services to pick her up instead.”

Instantly, all my nerves tighten and I sit straight up. “Are you talking about Rebel?”

The line goes quiet.

Chance looks over at me and winces.

“Chance, is Gunner in the car with you?” April shrieks.

“Uh… yeah.”

“Why didn’t youtellme!”

“What happened to Rebel?” I demand.

“Oh.Nowyou care?”

“April.”

“What?” she snaps.

“Tell me.”

“Or what?”

April Brooks is a fierce little thing and she sounds like she’s ready to reach through the cell phone and grab me by my collar.

“You don’t intimidate me, Gunner. I don’t care if you’re a Kinsey. I don’t answer to you.”

“I’m not trying to intimidate anyone. Just… please. What happened to Rebel?” My voice breaks on the last word.

I’m already imagining the worst.

What if Uncle Stewart found out I’m investigating our family? What if he decided to make good on the threat of ‘bad things’ happening as a result? What if Rebel got hurt because of me?

“Tink,” Chance’s voice is coaxing, “Gunner’s about to have a heart attack over here. I think you should tell him.”

I lean forward, staring at the fancy dashboard display and waiting on pins and needles for April to speak.

She pushes the words out reluctantly, “Rebel got an opportunity to pitch her community service project to a bunch of wealthy businessmen. She stayed up late for days, practiced her speech, and put her heart and soul into doing a good job.”

The knot in my chest loosens with every word from April’s mouth. This has nothing to do with Uncle Stewart or my family. That’s good.

Then…

Why was Rebel so distraught she couldn’t even drive her car?

“Did she get rejected?” I ask, frowning.

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